Why sponsor a youth?

Meet Laura

Laura, 17, lives in El Salvador and is sponsored through the Hope for a Family program. Through sponsorship, youth like Laura are able to complete their education and hear words of encouragement such as "I believe in you" from their sponsors.

Our commitment to youth

Young men and women in the Hope for a Family sponsorship program know the best way to help their families is to finish school. It is not uncommon for youth in developing countries to have to leave school to help their families make ends meet. This is why we are committed to helping students like Laura complete their education and help lift their families out of poverty.

Sponsorship does not end at a certain age. We stay with the students as long as they are working to complete their education, whether that is high school, technical school or a university. We have many sponsored youth who have gone on to complete professional degrees and come back to serve in their communities. We believe these young people are the future leaders of their communities and their countries.

When you sponsor a youth

When you sponsor a youth, you are connected one-to-one with a young person brimming with potential but in need of help. You are given the opportunity to develop a friendship through letter writing. You will get to know your friend and learn about their daily realities, hopes and dreams. You can encourage them in their studies and hear about their progress.

It is a special challenge for us to find sponsors for youth since most people want to sponsor younger children. But when you decide to sponsor one of these amazing young people, you join a special group of sponsors who are giving these students real hope and the chance to realize their dreams of a better future for themselves and their families.

What you should know

Your contribution directly impacts your sponsored friend

Your sponsorship contribution of $30 per month provides benefits and services to your sponsored friend. The local project staff will work with your friend and his or her family to personalize benefits to meet their specific needs. Benefits for youth typically focus on educational support, including tuition assistance, registration fees, transportation costs, books, school supplies and uniforms. The Hope for a Family program staff works with the youth to develop an educational plan and offer special programs to help them achieve their goals. They help the youth cope with the challenges they face along the way and provide a variety of services from tutoring to self-esteem workshops.

93.7 percent of CFCA's expenses go toward program support, and we are highly rated by charity watchdog groups.

View our financials »  

The sponsored youth do their part - this is not a handout

The primary focus of our Hope for a Family program is creating opportunities for sponsored members to develop their own capacity for personal and economic growth, rather than focusing solely on the distribution of material goods.

The youth have responsibilities for participation in the program. They are expected to stay in school and develop their potential. They are required to participate in programs at the local level and to write to their sponsors. They also serve as role models to younger siblings and other children in the community. 

Read about the perseverance of youth through Francisco's story » 

The youth's really there

When you select a young person to sponsor, we want you to know that your friend is really there. We do not sponsor representational youth nor do we use sponsorship just to raise funds. Our project staff knows each individual youth and family and works directly with them on a regular basis.

You will receive at least two letters per year from your friend, as well as an updated annual photo. We encourage you to write your friend. Through letters, you will have an opportunity to offer encouragement and support and develop a friendship by getting to know one another.

Each year, we host more than 30 trips to our projects around the world so sponsors can meet their sponsored friends in person. A CFCA trip is an in-depth experience that will introduce you to your friend and the culture, daily reality and heroic struggle of CFCA families.

View our trip calendar »